A definitive list of 2024 top shopping dates in Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific is one of the biggest and most diverse continents in the world, and its shopping scene is no exception. With a wide range of cultures and traditions, there are many different shopping dates throughout the year.

From the bustling marketplaces of China to the tech-savvy shoppers of South Korea and the laid-back style of Australia, each country has its unique shopping calendar. We’ve done our research and summarised the key shopping dates right here, so you don’t have to.

Here’s a definitive list of 2024 top shopping dates in major countries across Asia-Pacific:

Australia

Click Frenzy (October/November)

Australians eagerly await Click Frenzy main event, an online shopping bonanza that takes place each year. Variations of Click Frenzy events also occur throughout the year, including Click Frenzy Travel in March and Click Frenzy Mayhem in May.

Black Friday (29^th November)

Black Friday is the most popular shopping event of the year for Aussies. Our consumer study report, ‘Trending in Australia’, found that 61% of Australians are expected to make a purchase on this day^[1].

Boxing Day (26^th December)

Traditionally, Australians flock to the shops on Boxing Day to snag post-Christmas sales. The deals now extend to online stores, where many brands participate in offering discounts on a wide range of products.

China 

Lunar New Year (10^th February)

Lunar New Year is the most important holiday in China and also one of the biggest shopping seasons of the year. Many retailers offer sales and promotions while consumers purchase gifts for their family and friends to mark the new year.

618 Shopping Festival (18^th June)

Originally initiated by e-commerce giant JD.com, 618 Shopping Festival rivals Singles’ Day in terms of deals and shopping frenzy. Our recent consumer research, ‘Trending in China’, found that 4 in 10 Chinese consumers plan to shop on this day^[2].

Singles’ Day (11^th November)

Singles’ Day is a shopping event that originated in China, and it is now celebrated in many other countries around the world. It is no longer a one-day shopping event with pre-sales started as early as 31^stOctober in 2022. According to our ‘Trending in China’ report, 59% of Chinese consumers are expected to make a purchase on Singles’ Day this year.

New Zealand

Waitangi Day Sales (6^th February)

New Zealand’s national day is marked by special sales and promotions. Often celebrated by businesses owned by the Māori people, as well as restaurants specialising in Māori cuisine, making Waitangi Day an ideal time for Kiwis to support local businesses.

Black Friday (29^th November)

Like their Australian neighbours, New Zealanders also participate in the Black Friday shopping craze. In 2022, shoppers in New Zealand spent NZ$350 million^[3] on Black Friday, making it the biggest shopping event of the year.

Christmas Eve (24^th December)

After Black Friday, Christmas Eve is the second biggest sales day in New Zealand. In 2022, Kiwis spent over NZ$200 million on this day^[3], making Christmas Eve an event not to be missed by brands.

Singapore

Lunar New Year (10^th February)

Similar to their Chinese counterparts, Lunar New Year is the most important holiday in Singapore. Families reunite and exchange gifts during this holiday, and many businesses offer special sales and discounts.

Singles’ Day (11^th November)

Singles’ Day has become increasingly popular in Singapore in recent years, but that’s not all. Retailers often leverage the growing popularity of double-digit shopping days such as 7.7 (7^th July), 8.8 (8^th August) all the way to 12.12 (12^th December).

Black Friday (29^th November)

This global shopping event has also made its mark in Singapore, with retailers offering discounts both in-store and online, making it one of the biggest shopping days of the year in Singapore^[4].

South Korea 

Seollal (10^th February)

Seollal, or Lunar New Year in Korea, sees many Koreans shop for gifts, traditional clothing (hanbok) and holiday necessities.

Chuseok (26^th – 28^th September)

Chuseok, the Korean Thanksgiving holiday, is one of the biggest shopping seasons in the country. The most popular items purchased online during Chuseok include food, beverages and clothing.

Black Friday (29^th November)

Black Friday sales in South Korea have been growing steadily in recent years. The top-selling categories on last year were fashion, beauty and electronics.

Mark your calendars

In short, shopping isn’t just a pastime in Asia-Pacific; it’s a cultural phenomenon. Each of these key shopping dates offers unique experiences and opportunities to partner with affiliate publishers to offer fantastic deals. Whether you’re reaching customers in Australia, China, New Zealand, Singapore or South Korea, our global team can help you thrive in these markets and make the most of each key shopping date.

Download the full 2024 Asia-Pacific retail calendar today.

Sources:

1. ‘Trending in Australia’, 2023, Rakuten Advertising
2. ‘Trending in China’, 2023, Rakuten Advertising
3. ‘Best Online Sales Days in New Zealand to Take Advantage of’, 2023, DHL
4. ‘Black Friday deals draw shoppers looking to save money amid inflation, looming GST hike’, 2022, The Strait Times